Bottle washer



June 22, 1954 J, B, Moc-:ABE 2,681,872

BOTTLE WASHER Filed Maron 15, 1951 WWF Patented June 22, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOTTLE WASHER Application March 15, 1951, Serial No. 215,745

12 Claims. l

This invention relates to improvements in bottle Washers or the` like.

Experience in the development of present-day bottle washers has shown that Ait isV advantageous to subject dirty bottles to a pre-rinsing operation in order to remove the loose particles therefrom prior to the entry of the bottles into the dormant soaking tank of the bottle washing machine. By using lukewarm water for this pre-rinse, the bottle is also tempered.

Bottle washing machines, as heretofore manufactured, have not been entirely satisfactoryfor a number of reasons. Prior machines caused pre-rinsing of the bottles prior to loading thereof into the basket conveyor and required the use of special mechanism for handling the dirty bottles during the pre-rinsing operation. Not only is this mechanism expensive to manufacture, but incertain designs the mouth of the bottle is partially closed while pre-rinsing is taking place, thereby preventing free now of the rinsing solun tion and of the larger particles from the mouth of the bottle. Because of this restriction oi the bottle mouths, the larger particles in the bottles are carried into the soakingtank rather than into the sewer which is usually provided for the pre-rinse waste.

A further disadvantage of prior machines is the fact that the pre-rinsing operation has heretofore consisted of a ,iet directed into the interior of the bottle only, and only while the bottle is in an inclined inverted position. Experience has shown that the momentary internal jet spray heretofore provided does not temper the dirty bottles sufficiently to prevent the breakage which is likely to result from heat shock when bottles are submerged in a relatively hot soaking tank liquid. Breakage from this cause occurs quite frequently in the wintertime when bottles containing ice are brought from` the outside and placed in the bottle Washing machine.

With the above in mind, it is a principal object of the invention to provide an improved bottle washing machine having means for simultaneously` pre-rinsing the dirty bottles and thoroughly tempering the same prior to their entry into the relatively hot soaking tank, thereby preventing bottle breakage from heat shook as the bottles enter the soaking tank.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved bottle washer of the class described, wherein the pre-rinsing operation is accomplished while the bottles are in the bottle carrying baskets of the main bottle washer conveyor.

Thus, no special bottle handling mechanism is required for the pre-rinsing operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved bottle washer of the class described wherein the bottle mouths are at all times unobstructed during the pre-rinsing operation. Thus, free ow of the pre-rinsing huid and of the larger particles from the bottles is permitted.

A further, more specic object oi the invention is to provide an improved bottle washer oi the class described wherein the bottle carrying baskets are caused to travel in a substantially semicircular path in a vertical plane from an upright position to an inverted position therebelow, there being jets for directing pre-rinse water downwardly into and over the bottles in said upright baskets, and there being jets for directing prerinse Water upwardly into and over the bottles in said inverted baskets, the arrangements being such that pre-rinse water which drops from the bottles in the upright baskets will now downwardly over the bottoms and sides of inverted bottles therebelow to thoroughly expose both the interior and the exterior of said bottles to the rinsing and tempering action of the pre-rinse water.

A further object of the' invention is to provide an improved bottle washer of the class described. wherein economies are effected because of the fact that the water used for the pre-rinsing operation is water which has been recovered from the semi-fresh rinse stage of the washing operation, said water requiring no pre-heating, and being water which would otherwise be discarded.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved bottle washer of the class described wherein the pre-rinsing operation is accomplished by the use of a minimum of parts, thus reducing the cost of manufacture and the likelihood of repair being required.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the improved bottle washer, and all of its parts and combinations, as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

ln the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specification wherein is shown one complete embodiment of the preferred form of the invention, and wherein like characters of reference indicate the same parts in all or" the views:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective side view of the front end of a bottle washing machine embodying the principles of the invention; and

. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary semi-diagrammatic side View of the improved bottle washing machine shown in Fig. 1, parts being broken away.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral IIJ indicates a generally rectangular housing, the bottom portion of which is formed with an elongated tank II. An endless chain conveyor I2 which is provided with a plurality of bottle carrying baskets I3 has a lower stretch which extends longitudinally through the tank I I with the baskets i3 in upright position, as shown. At the rear end of the housing I8 the conveyor I2 extends vertically upwardly out of the tank II to a point adjacent the upper end of the housing I0, from which point the conveyor extends horizontally forwardly with the baskets I3 inverted. At the forward end of the housing I the upper extent of the conveyor I2 curves downwardly, as shown, and passes a loading and discharge station I4 at which point the baskets I3 are in an inclined upright position. From the loading and discharge station I4 the conveyor I2 travels through an arcuate path in a vertical plane, said path being preferably at least semi-circular in extent. In a portion I5 on said arcuate path of the conveyor the baskets are upright, and in a portion I6 directly below the portion I5 the baskets are inverted. From the portion I6 the conveyor extends in another semi-circular arcuate path and enters the tank II, as shown.

Fig. 1 discloses the mechanism for driving the conveyor I2 and for loading the unloading said conveyor at I4. Since the loading and unloading of the conveyor does not form an essential part of this invention, the loading and unloading mechanisrm will not be described in detail. However, it should be noted that the conveyor I2 is moved in the direction indicated by the arrows and that bottles I1 to be washed, enter the machine on a feed conveyor I8. The bottles I1 are lifted into the baskets I3 along an inclined slide I9 while washed bottles 28 are permitted to drop out of the baskets along an inclined slide 2| and leave the machine on a discharge conveyor 22.

Positioned within the housing I0 above the tank I I and below the upper horizontal extent of the conveyor I2 are alined tanks 23, 24 and 25, preferably three in number. The tanks 23 and 25 are preferably substantially longer than the intermediate tank 24, and said tanks are positioned so that the inverted baskets I3 of the conveyor I2 pass thereover as shown. The forward wall of the tank 25 preferably extends forwardly above the portion I5 of the conveyor to a point below the forward extremity of the upper horizontal extent of the conveyor, as shown. Below the portion I6 of the conveyor is an open topped tank or trough 26 which is provided with a drain 21.

Positioned below the upper extent of the conveyor I2, at the open upper end of the tank 23, are a pair of jet units 23 and 29 having upwardly directed nozzles 30 for discharging fluid upwardly into the open mouths of bottles positioned in the inverted baskets I3. Positioned above the units 30 and above the conveyor I2 are a pair of outside shower units 3| for directing fluid downwardly over the outer sides of the inverted bottles in the baskets I3 therebelow. An electrically driven pump 32 has its inlet connection communicating with the bottom of the tank 23, and said pump discharges into a conduit 33 which is connected to the jet units 28 and 29 and to the outside shower units 3l.

Positioned below the upper extent of the conveyor I2, at the open upper end of the tank 24, is a jet unit 34 having nozzles 35 for directing fluid upwardly into the mouths of inverted bottles in the baskets I3. An outside shower unit 36 is positioned above the unit 34 and above the conveyor I2, as shown, for discharging fluid downwardly over the outer sides of the inverted bottles in the baskets I3 therebelow. Similarly positioned at the open upper end of the tank 25 is a jet unit 31 having upwardly directed nozzles 38, and positioned above the jet unit 31 and conveyor I2 is an outside shower unit 39 similar to the unit 36. An electrically driven pump 40 has its inlet connected to a conduit 4I which conduit opens into the bottom of the tank 25, and said pump discharges into a conduit 42 which latter conduit communicates with the jet units 34 and 31 and with the outside shower units 36 and 39.

Positioned above the portion I5 of the conveyor I2 is a jet unit 43 having nozzles 44 which are positioned to direct uid downwardly into the mouths of the upright bottles in the baskets I3 therebelow. Positioned below the portion I3 of the conveyor and within the tank 26 is a jet unit 45 having nozzles 46 positioned to direct fluid upwardly into the mouths of the inverted bottles in the baskets I3 thereabove. An electrically operated pump 41 has its inlet connected to a conduit 48 which communicates with the bottom of the tank 24, and the outlet of said pump discharges into a conduit 49 which communicates with both of the jet units 43 and 45.

The tank II contains adormant soaking fluid which is preferably a caustic and which iluid is maintained at approximately F. by suitable heating coils (not shown). The tank 23 contains a relatively weak caustic solution and its volume is maintained by the carry-over from tank II. The tank 25 contains semi-fresh water at approximately 15 F. The pump 32 pumps the relatively weak caustic solution through the conduit 33 to the jet units 28 and 29 and to the outside shower units 3l so that the bottles between the units 28 and 29 and the units 3| are pressure washed, both inside and out, with the weak caustic solution, said solution draining back into the tank 23. The pump 49 pumps semi-fresh water to the jet units 34 and 31 as well as to the outside shower units 36 and 39. The jet unit 34 and the outside shower unit 36 provide the first stage in the removal of caustic solution adhering to the bottles, and the fluid from these units drains back into the tank 24. The fluid in the tank 24 of conventional machines is permitted to drain off to thesewer. However, in the present improved bottle washer this fluid is pumped by the pump 41 to the jet units 43 and 45. This fluid is luke warm, i. e., approximately '15 F.

In the operation of the improved machine, bottles to be washed enter in the feed conveyor I6 and are lifted into the baskets I3 along the loading slide I9 at the loading and discharge station I4. The bottles are then moved from the loading station I4 toward position I5 below the jet unit 43, and here the nozzles 44 direct the lukewarm uid from the tank 24 downwardly inot the mouths of said bottles. As is clearly shown in Fig. 1, the mouths of the bottles I1 are unobstructed when the bottles are in the baskets I3, and as the bottles are being moved past the .iet units 43, the fluid that does not enter the bottles ilows downwardly around the outside walls thereof. The bottles are then continuously moved to the position I6 where they a-re in inverted position over the jet unit 45. While the bottles are being thus moved from the position l 5V to the position I6, the water in the bottles is permitted to iioW out by gravity, and the larger loose par ticles in the bottles are thereby removed.

As the bottles move over the jet unit t5, the nozzles 4E? direct additional uid from the tank 24 upwardly into the open mouths of said bottles while at the same time excess fluid from the jet unit 43 iiowing down from the bottles in the conveyor portion 55 iiows by gravity over the bottoms and the outside portions of the inverted bottles. The fluid from the nozzles it further flushes out the insides of the bottles, and the outside shower provided by the excess uid falling on the bottles from above insures that the bottles are thoroughly tempered as they leave the conveyor portion I6 to enter the tank i I.

Movement of the bottles through the tank Il softens and dissolves ail organic matter inside and outside of the bottles. As the bottles move upwardly along the vertical rear extent of the .conveyor l2, the caustic fluid therein begins to The caustic is substantially removed from the bottles while the bottles are being moved between the jet unit 34 and the outside shower unit 3d over the tank 2d, semi-fresh warm water from the tank 25 being used for this purpose. Since the semi-fresh water in the tank 25 has a tern- .perature of approximately 75 F., this water further reduces the temperature of the bottles. lThe 'bottles are further washed, both inside and out, by semi-fresh water from the tank 25 as the bottles pass between the jet unit 38 and the outside shower unit 3&3. A fresh water rinsefroin the jet unit 5d and outside shower unit el may be followed by a chlorinated rinse (not shown). After the final rinse7 the bottles progress to the dis-l charge station H2 where they are lowered irorn` the baskets i3, along the discharge slide 2i, and are deposited onto the discharge conveyor 22.

It is apparentthat the improved bottle` washing machine provides a pre-rinsing operation which is performed while the bottles are being carried in the baskets of the main conveyor I2. This eliminates all special mechanism ordinarily required for pre-rinsing. It also insures that the bottle mouths are at all times'unobstructed during the pre-rinsing operation. In addition, the use of the double jet units a3 and 45 not only provides thorough rinsing of the inside of the bottles, but the arrangement whereby the bottles are made to travel in a semi-circular path, from an upright position to an inverted position therebelow, permits the excess iiuid from the upper j et units 43 to flow downwardly over` the inverted bottles in a position therebelow, to thoroughly temper the bottles as well as to provide an additional outside wash therefor.

By reusing the iiuid from the tank 24' (which would otherwise be wasted), the improved bottle washing machine effects a two-fold economy. First, the volume of fluid required is` reduced; and, second, the heat which would otherwise be 6, requiredto raise the temperature of thepre-rinse uid .is saved. Since the uid in tank 24 is already at the proper temperature for use as a pre-rinsing fluid, nopreheatingzthereof is'required to adapt it for use as pre-rinse iiuid.

VariousV changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and all of such changes are contemplated, as may come within the scope of the claims.

What I claim is:

l. n a bottle washer: av conveyor having'a plurality of open ended pockets for accommodating bottles; means for causing said conveyor'to travel in a circuitous path from a position Ain which the bottles are upright to a position in which the bottles are inverted; a source of pre-` rinsing liquid; a nozzle connected to said source and positioned to direct pre-rinsing liquid downwardly into bottles in said pockets While said bottles are in said upright position, said bottles when inverted being positioned in the path of surplus fluid falling by gravity from said nozzle and upright bottles; and a nozzle connected to said source and positioned to direct pre-rinsing liquid upwardly into bottles in said pockets while said bottles are in said inverted position, whereby said bottles are doubly rinsed and tempered,

2. in a bottle washer: a conveyor having'a plurality of open ended pockets for accommodating bottles; means for causing said conveyor to travel in a circuitous path in a vertical plane from a position in which the bottles are upright to a position therebelow in which the bottles are inverted; a source of pre-rinsing liquid; `a nozzle connected to said source and positioned to direct pre-rinsing liquid downwardly into bottles in said pockets while said bottles are in said upright position said bottles when inverted being positioned in the path of surplus uid .falling by gravity from said nozzle and upright bottles; and a nozzle connected to said source and positioned to direct pre-rinsing liquid upwardly into bottles in said pockets While said bottles are in said inverted position whereby said bottles are doubly rinsed and tempered.

3. In a bottle washer: a conveyor having a plurality of open end-ed pockets for accommodating bottles; means for causing said conveyor to travel duringpart of its movement in a substantially semi-circular path in a vertical plane, there being a position at the top of said semicircular path where the bottles are upright and a position at the bottom of said semi-circular path where the bottles are inverted; a source oi pre-rinsing liquid; a nozzle connected to said source and positioned to direct pre-rinsing liquid downwardly into bottles in said pockets while said bottles are in said upright position at the top of said semi-circular path with the surplus rluid falling by gravity onto the inverted bottles at the bottom of said semi-circular path; and a nozzle connected to said source and positioned from a position in which the bottles are upright to a position therebelow in which the bottles are inverted and nnally to a position where the bottles are again upright as they enter said soaking tank; a source of relatively warm pre-rinsing liquid; and a nozzle connected to said source and positioned to direct pre-rinsing liquid downwardly into bottles in said pockets while said bottles are in said first upright position, said bottles when inverted being positioned in the path of surplus liquid falling by gravity from said nozzle and upright bottles whereby said bottles are pre-rinsed and tempered while in said pockets and before entry of said bottles into said tank.

5. In a bottle washer: a conveyor having a plurality of open ended pockets for accommodating bottles; a pocket loading station; a relatively high temperature soaking tank toward which said conveyor is adapted to move bottles from said loading station; means between said loading station and said tank for causing said conveyor to travel in a substantially semi-circular path during part of its movement, there being a position at the top of said semi-circular path where the bottles are upright, and a position at the bottom of said semi-circular path where the bottles are inverted; a source of relatively warm pre-rinsing liquid; and a nozzle connected to said source and positioned to direct pre-rinsing liquid downwardly onto bottles in said pockets while said bottles are in said upright position at the top of said semi-circular path, the surplus fluid falling by gravity onto the inverted bottles at the bottom oi' said semicircular path, whereby said bottles are doubly rinsed and tempered while in said pockets and before entry of said bottles into said tank.

6. In a bottle washer: a conveyor having a plurality of open ended pockets for accommodating bottles; a pocket loading station; a relatively high temperature soaking tank toward which said conveyor is adapted to move bottles from said loading station; means between said loading station and said tank for causing said conveyor to travel in a circuitous path from a position in which the bottles are upright to a position in which the bottles are inverted; a source of relatively warm pre-rinsing liquid; a nozzle connected to said source and positioned to direct pre-rinsing liquid downwardly into bottles in said pockets while said bottles are in said upright position; and a nozzle connected to said source and positioned to direct pre-rinsing liquid upwardly into bottles in said pockets while said bottles are in said inverted position, whereby L `said loading station; means between said loading station and said tank for causing said conveyor to travel in a circuitous path in a vertical vplane from a position in which the bottles are upright to a position therebelow in which the bottles are inverted; a source of relatively warm pre-rinsing liquid; a nozzle connected to said source and positioned to direct pre-rinsing liquid downwardly into bottles in said pockets while said bottles are in said upright position in a vertical plane; and a nozzle connected to said `source and positioned to direct pre-rinsing liquid upwardly into bottles in said pockets while said bottles are in said inverted position, whereby said bottles are doubly rinsed and tempered while in said pockets and before entry of said bottles into said tank.

8. In a bottle washer: a conveyor having a plurality of open ended pockets for accommodating bottles; a pocket loading station; a relatively high temperature soaking tank toward which said conveyor is adapted to move bottles from said loading station; means between said loading station and said tank for causing said conveyor to travel during part of its movement in a substantially semi-circular path in a vertical plane from a position at the top of said semicircular path where the bottles are upright to a position at the bottom of said semi-circular path where the bottles are inverted; a source of relatively warm pre-rinsng liquid; a nozzle connected to said source and positioned to direct pre-rinsing liquid downwardly into bottles in said pockets while said bottles are in said upright position at the top of said semi-circular path with the surplus fluid falling by gravity onto the inverted bottles at the bottom of said semi-circular path; and a nozzle connected to said source and positioned to direct pre-rinsing liquid upwardly into bottles in said pockets While said bottles are in said inverted position, whereby said bottles are doubly rinsed and tempered while in said pockets and before entry of said bottles into said tank.

9. In a bottle Washer: a conveyor having a plurality of open ended pockets for accommodating bottles; a pocket loading station; a relatively high teniperature soaking tank toward which said conveyor moves bottles from said loading station; a rotatable member rotatably mounted on a horizontal axis and around which the portion of the conveyor which is between said loading station and said tank travels in a substantially semi-circular path from a position in which the bottles are upright to a position therebelow in which the bottles are inverted; a source of relatively warm pre-rinsing liquid; a nozzle connected to said source and positioned to direct pre-rinsing liquid downwardly into bottles in said pockets while said bottles are in said upright position; and a nozzle connected to said source and positioned to direct prerinsing liquid upwardly into bottles in said pockets while said bottles are in said inverted position, whereby said bottles are doubly rinsed and tempered while in said pockets and before entry of said bottles into said tank.

10. The method of washing bottles comprising: continuously conveying bottles in line formation one after another, rst in upright position and then in inverted position; jetting liquid of predetermined temperature at said bottles while the latter are in upright position to prerinse the same and partially raise the temperature thereof allowing the liquid to flow out of said bottles as the latter move from upright to f inverted position; jetting liquid at a pre-determined ternperature at said bottles while they are in inverted position to again pre-rinse the bottles allowing the second pre-rinsing liquid to drain from the inverted bottles; and then causing the bottles to be immersed in liquid which is at a higher temperature than bothv of the first mentioned liquids while the bottles are thus conveyed.

11. The method of washing bottles comprising: continuously conveying bottles in line formation one after another, first in upright position and then in an inverted position which is directly below bottles which are still in upright position; jetting liquid at a predetermined temperature at said bottles while the latter are in upright position to pre-rinse the same and partially raise the temperature thereof; jetting liquid at a pre-determined temperature at said bottles while they are in inverted position to again pre-rinse the bottles while allowing surplus of said iirst jetting liquid to flow over said inverted bottles, and then causing the bottles to be immersed in liquid which is at a higher temperature than both of the first mentioned liquids while the bottles are thus conveyed.

12. The method of washing bottles comprising: continuously conveying bottles in line formation one after another, first in upright position and then in an inverted position which is directlyT below bottles which are still in upright position; jetting liquid at a pre-determined ternperature at said bottles while the latter are in upright position to pre-rinse the same and partially raise the temperature thereof; jetting liquid at a predetermined temperature at said bottles while they are in inverted position to again pre-rinse the bottles while allowing surplus of said iirst jetting liquid to iiow over said inverted bottles; allowing the second pre-rinsing liquid to drain from the inverted bottles; and then causing the bottles to be immersed in liquid which is at a higher temperature than both of the first mentioned liquids while the bottles are thus conveyed.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 807,687 Schirmet Dec. 19, 1905 1,625,930 Astrom Apr. 26, 1927 1,695,212 Seitz Dec. 11, 1928 1,749,989 Soelch Mar. 11, 1930 1,775,003 Soelch Sept. 2, 1930 2,367,652 Trier et al Jan. 16, 1945 2,456,040 Alling et a1. Dec. 14, 1948 2,573,169 Gerlach et al Oct. 30, 1951 

1. IN A BOTTLE WASHER: A CONVEYOR HAVING A PLURALITY OF OPEN ENDED POCKETS FOR ACCOMMODATING BOTTLES; MEANS FOR CAUSING SAID CONVEYOR TO TRAVEL IN A CIRCUITOUS PATH FROM A POSITION IN WHICH THE BOTTLES ARE UPRIGHT TO A POSITION IN WHICH THE BOTTLES ARE INVERTED; A SOURCE OF PRERINSING LIQUID; A NOZZLE CONNECTED TO SAID SOURCE AND POSITIONED TO DIRECT PRE-RINSING LIQUID DOWNWARDLY INTO BOTTLES IN SAID POCKETS WHILE SAID BOTTLES ARE IN SAID UPRIGHT POSITION, SAID BOTTLES WHEN INVERTED BEING POSITIONED IN THE PATH OF SURPLUS FLUID FALLING BY GRAVITY FROM SAID NOZZLE AND UPRIGHT BOTTLES; AND A NOZZLE CONNECTED TO SAID SOURCE AND POSITIONED TO DIRECT PRE-RINSING LIQUID UPWARDLY INTO BOTTLES IN SAID POCKETS WHILE SAID BOTTLES ARE IN SAID INVERTED POSITION, WHEREBY SAID BOTTLES ARE DOUBLY RINSED AND TEMPERED.
 10. THE METHOD OF WASHING BOTTLES COMPRISING: CONTINUOUSLY CONVEYING BOTTLES IN LINE FORMATION ONE AFTER ANOTHER, FIRST IN UPRIGHT POSITION AND THEN IN INVERTED POSITION; JETTING LIQUID OF PREDETERMINED TEMPERATURE AT SAID BOTTLES WHILE THE LATTER ARE IN UPRIGHT POSITION TO PRERINSE THE SAME AND PARTIALLY RAISE THE TEMPERATURE THEREOF ALLOWING THE LIQUID TO FLOW OUT OF SAID BOTTLES AS THE LATTER MOVE FROM UPRIGHT TO INVERTED POSITION; JETTING LIQUID AT A PRE-DETERMINED TEMPERATURE AT SAID BOTTLES WHILE THEY ARE IN INVERTED POSITION TO GAIN PRE-RINSE THE BOTTLES ALLOWING THE SECOND PRE-RINSING LIQUID TO DRAIN FROM THE INVERTED BOTTLES; AND THEN CAUSING THE BOTTLES TO BE IMMERSED IN LIQUID WHICH IS AT A HIGHER TEMPERATURE THAN BOTH OF THE FIRST MENTIONED LIQUIDS WHILE THE BOTTLES ARE THUS CONVEYED. 